Campaigners are calling for tougher safeguards after new figures revealed that tens of millions of pounds are being spent by gamblers on one of the betting industry’s most controversial gaming machines.

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling says fixed odds betting terminals are leading people into a life of addiction.

A BOROUGH MP has slammed the “appalling” decision not to cap maximum bets on betting machines dubbed the “crack-cocaine” of gambling.

A group of councils across the country had backed a bid for a limit of £2 per spin on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling initiative had said this would bring restrictions on FOBTs in line with other high street gambling machines and reduce “clustering” of betting shops. But the proposals have been rejected by ministers.

New figures show that betting shops across the country were forced to call out police officers 9,083 times last year, an increase of 1,600 incidents on the previous year.

Campaigners say that highly addictive fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs), which offer casino-style games including roulette in bookmaker shops, are to blame for the spike in crime, which includes players vandalising machines and abusing staff.

Outlook Did you think that his views on the BBC would be the only controversy that the new Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, would be engaged in, less than a week after his surprise appointment? Au contraire.

Mr Whittingdale, it appears, is a fan of fixed odds betting terminals. Or he has at least spoken in support of them. FOBTs are a fixture in betting shops up and down the country and have, until recently, provided a very big earnings stream for the industry.

Endorsement from Councillor Kevin Peel (Labour), Manchester Central

"There are 52 betting shops in my constituency, central Manchester and more on the way. Bookmakers with their addictive high stake, hard core gaming machines are preying on the most vulnerable in society. It has to stop and that is why, with the help of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, I opposed the 53rd shop planned by William Hills in Manchester. The proliferation of FOBTs on our high streets must stop - Government must act and give power back to Councils and their communities. Please support stopthefobts.org"READ MORE

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